Patti Blagojevich: Show in jungle 'good option'

May 28, 2009

Former Illinois first lady Patti Blagojevich said Thursday that starring in a reality show set in a Costa Rican jungle was "a pretty good option" since she and her husband lost their jobs, and that the entertainment press was more fun to deal with than Illinois' political reporters.

She made the comments in a telephone media junket arranged by NBC. She appeared with former NBA player and Fox Sports co-host John "Spider" Salley, for whom "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!" is a second foray into reality television programming.

A transcript of the Tribune's interview with Patti Blagojevich and John Salley follows:

Q: So you're heading into the jungle on Saturday?

Patti: That's what they tell us.

Q: Do you think THIS is the best way to help your kids or use your time right now?

Patti: We're living through an interesting economy, and my husband unfortunately got, unjustly fired from his job. And then the charity that I worked for, after that happened to him, decided that they did not want the publicity, and let me go from a job that I really enjoyed and liked.

And so it's been a tough six months for me and my family. So we got this tremendous opportunity from NBC to be on this (pause) exciting new show, groundbreaking show that they're doing.

I think it was a good decision.

Q: What do they pay you? What do you keep? What goes to charity?

Patti: Obviously, we're compensated for our appearance on the show, but then even a bigger part is that I'm raising money for Bare Necessities, which is a pediatric cancer foundation in Illinois. That helps children that have been diagnosed with cancer and their parents and family help deal with this whole ordeal. So Bare Necessities will be a beneficiary for as long as I'm on the show.

Q: What about for you and the kids? How's the paycheck different if you survive one episode vs. five or six?

John: We don't make any money. You keep asking the personal questions. There. Is. No. Money. We're raising money for charity. I guess you didn't understand the first time.

Q: If you're making no money, I'm trying to figure out -

John: In other words, it's none of your business. What we're doing is raising money for charity. You're asking the personal, like, 'How much you making?' We make $5. We're making $10 a day. I'm getting paid exactly what they get paid in Costa Rica to be a school teacher. Good answer?